Swing lock device for construction equipment

ABSTRACT

A swing locking device for a construction machine is disclosed, which enables an operator in a cabin to confirm the locking/unlocking state of the locking device that locks a swing device or to operate the locking device. The swing lock device for a construction machine includes a lower driving structure, an upper swing structure mounted to swing on the lower driving structure by a swing device, a ring gear for locking the swing device formed on an outer surface of a ring gear for the swing device that forms the swing device, an actuator correspondingly formed to be tooth-engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device to engage or disengage a locking gear fixed to a cylinder rod, an alignment setting confirmation sensor detecting whether setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear for locking the swing device and the locking gear through driving of the actuator, and a swing lock/unlock detection sensor detecting a swing lock state in which the locking gear is engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device or a swing unlock state in which the locking gear is disengaged from the ring gear ( 10 ) for locking the swing device through the driving of the actuator.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a swing locking device for a construction machine, and more particularly, to a swing locking device for a construction machine, which enables an operator in a cabin to confirm the locking/unlocking state (swing lock or swing unlock) of the locking device that locks a swing device or to operate the locking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, a pipe laying work for laying a heavy oil pipe or lifting and conveying the oil pipe to a pipe laying place is performed using an excavator that can perform traveling and swing operations. In this case, if an operator makes an upper swing structure swing suddenly due to an erroneous operation of a swing device during traveling in a state where the oil pipe is lifted using a wire rope, a lifted object may be shaken in a swing direction of the equipment due to inertia. Due to this, the equipment and the oil pipe may come in contact with each other, or the lifted object may secede from the wire rope to cause a serious safety accident to occur.

As described above, in order to prevent such a safety accident from occurring due to the operator's erroneous operation of the swing device, a separate ring gear for locking the swing device is fastened to a ring gear which constitute the swing device that makes the upper swing structure swing, and thus the occurrence of the safety accident due to the erroneous operation of the swing device can be reduced.

In contrast, in the case of locking the swing device by separately fastening the ring gear for locking the swing device, an operator needs a separate worker's help to match a mutual alignment state in which the ring gear for locking the swing device is engaged with a ring gear on the swing device side. Further, even in the case of licking the swing device by fastening the ring gear for locking the swing device to the swing device, it is not possible to confirm whether the ring gear for locking the swing device is safely locked in the ring gear on the swing device side.

Further, if the strength of the ring gear for locking the swing device is weak, the ring gear may be damaged by swing pressure when the operator excessively swings the swing device in a state where the swing device is locked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a swing locking device for a construction machine, which enables an operator in a cabin to operate a swing device after confirming the locking/unlocking state of a locking device that locks the swing device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a swing locking device for a construction machine, which can reduce the occurrence of a safety accident due to an operator's erroneous operation of a swing device in the case of performing a pipe laying work using an excavator.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a swing locking device for a construction machine, which includes a lower driving structure; an upper swing structure mounted to swing on the lower driving structure by a swing device; a ring gear for locking the swing device formed on an outer surface of a ring gear for the swing device that forms the swing device; an actuator correspondingly formed to be tooth-engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device to engage or disengage a locking gear fixed to a cylinder rod; an alignment setting confirmation sensor detecting whether setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear for locking the swing device and the locking gear through driving of the actuator; and a swing lock/unlock detection sensor detecting a swing lock state in which the locking gear is engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device or a swing unlock state in which the locking gear is disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device through the driving of the actuator.

A hydraulic cylinder may be used as the actuator.

The swing locking device may further includes a controller notifying an operator in a cabin of an engagement state of the locking gear and shifting a power applied to the swing device in an off state if the operator makes the locking gear engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device through operation of a swing lock switch, and notifying the operator in the cabin of a disengagement state of the locking gear and shifting the power applied to the swing device in an on state if the operator makes the locking gear disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device through operation of a swing unlock switch.

The alignment setting confirmation sensor may include first and second sensors installed symmetrically on left and right sides about the locking gear to detect whether the setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear for locking the swing device and the locking gear through the driving of the actuator.

The swing lock/unlock detection sensor may include a third sensor detecting the swing lock state in which the locking gear is engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device through expansion driving of the actuator; and a fourth sensor detecting the swing unlock state in which the locking gear is disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device through contraction driving of the actuator.

An indicator lamp installed in the cabin or an alarm or sound message may be used as a means for notifying the operator in the cabin of whether the locking gear is engaged with or disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device.

Advantageous Effect

According to an embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the operator in the cabin operates the swing device after confirming the locking/unlocking state of the locking device that locks the swing device through a display means, convenience can be provided to the operator. Further, during the pipe laying work using the excavator, the occurrence of a safety accident due to the contact of the oil pipe that is shaken by inertia through the operator's erroneous operation of the swing device can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view explaining an engaged or disengaged state of a ring gear for locking a swing device and a locking gear in a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view explaining a swing lock state due to tooth-engagement of a locking gear with a ring gear for locking a swing device in a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view explaining a swing unlock state due to a release of tooth-engagement of a locking gear with a ring gear for locking a swing device in a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR MAIN PARTS IN THE DRAWING

-   10: ring gear for locking a swing device -   11: locking gear -   12: actuator -   13: first sensor -   14: second sensor -   15: third sensor -   16: fourth sensor -   17: swing lock switch -   18: swing unlock switch -   19: controller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferential function control apparatus for a construction machine and a method for controlling the same in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view explaining an engaged or disengaged state of a ring gear for locking a swing device and a locking gear in a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view explaining a swing lock state due to tooth-engagement of a locking gear with a ring gear for locking a swing device in a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view explaining a swing unlock state due to a release of tooth-engagement of a locking gear with a ring gear for locking a swing device in a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a swing locking device for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower driving structure; an upper swing structure mounted to swing on the lower driving structure by a swing device (including a swing motor, a pinion gear shaft-coupled to the swing motor, and a ring gear tooth-engaged with the pinion gear); a ring gear (formed on an outer ring) 10 for locking the swing device formed on an outer surface of a ring gear (gear teeth are omitted) for the swing device that forms the swing device; an actuator 12 correspondingly formed to be tooth-engaged with the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device to engage or disengage a locking gear (indicated by slanting lines in FIGS. 2 and 3) 11 fixed to a cylinder rod; an alignment setting confirmation sensor detecting whether setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 through driving of the actuator 12; and a swing lock/unlock detection sensor detecting a swing lock state in which the locking gear 11 is engaged with the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device or a swing unlock state in which the locking gear 11 is disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through the driving of the actuator 12.

A hydraulic cylinder may be used as the actuator 12.

The swing locking device may further includes a controller 19 notifying an operator in a cabin of an engagement state of the locking gear 11 and shifting a power applied to the swing device in an off state if the operator makes the locking gear 11 engaged with the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through operation of a swing lock switch 17, and notifying the operator in the cabin of a disengagement state of the locking gear 11 and shifting the power applied to the swing device in an on state if the operator makes the locking gear 11 disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through operation of a swing unlock switch 18.

The alignment setting confirmation sensor may include first and second sensors 13 and 14 installed symmetrically on left and right sides about the locking gear 11 to detect whether the setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 through the driving of the actuator.

The swing lock/unlock detection sensor may include a third sensor 15 detecting the swing lock state in which the locking gear 11 is engaged with the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through expansion driving of the actuator 12; and a fourth sensor 16 detecting the swing unlock state in which the locking gear 11 is disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through contraction driving of the actuator 12.

An indicator lamp 21 installed in the cabin or an alarm or sound message may be used as a means for notifying the operator in the cabin of whether the locking gear 11 is engaged with or disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device.

In the drawing, an unexplained reference numeral 22 denotes a lower frame on which a traveling device (including a traveling motor and a track) is mounted and on which the upper swing structure is mounted to swing by the swing device.

According to the above-described configuration, if the swing lock switch 17 is operated by the operator in the cabin, an operation signal is output to the controller 19. In accordance with the control signal from the controller 19, a control valve (a valve that controls a flow direction of hydraulic fluid that is supplied from a hydraulic pump (not illustrated) to the actuator 12) is shifted, and the actuator 12 is expansion-driven by the hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the actuator 12 to engage the locking gear 11 with the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device. In this case, in the case where the locking gear 11 is engaged with the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through the driving of the actuator 12, the third sensor 15 detects a swing lock state in which the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 are engaged with each other, and the detection signal is output to the controller 19.

Further, the first and second sensors 13 and 14, which are installed symmetrically on the left and right sides about the locking gear 11 to detect whether the alignment setting is completed, detects the alignment state between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11, and the detection signal is output to the controller 19. Through this, if the tooth-engagement between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 is completed, the controller 19 notifies the operator in the cabin of the alignment setting completion state between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 through turning on the indicator lamp (e.g., LED may be used) 21. Further, the controller 19 turns off the power that is applied to a solenoid valve (a valve that is shifted to control the flow direction of hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the swing motor of the swing device in response to an input of the electrical control signal) 20 for swing lock and swing unlock of the swing device.

Accordingly, the operator can perform forward and backward traveling of the equipment by operating an operation lever (not illustrated) for a traveling device. In contrast, since the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 are engaged with each other to be in a lock state, the power that is applied from the controller 19 to the solenoid valve 20 for swing lock and swing unlock, which controls the hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the swing motor of the swing device, is intercepted, and thus the equipment is unable to swing. That is, even in the case where the locking gear 11 is disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device to be shifted to an unlock state through the driving of the actuator 12, a detection signal for detecting the unlock state of the locking gear 11 with respect to the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device through the fourth sensor 16 is not output to the controller 19. In this case, it is determined that the locking between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 is not released. Due to this, in the case where the operator operates the operation lever (not illustrated) for the swing device to make the upper swing structure swing, the swing device does not operate, and thus the upper swing structure does not swing.

On the other hand, in the case where the operator operates the swing unlock switch 18, the corresponding operation signal is output to the controller 19. Through this, the actuator 12 is driven to be contracted by the control signal from the controller 19, and thus the locking gear 11 is disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device. In this case, when the locking gear 11 is disengaged from the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device by the contraction driving of the actuator 12, the fourth sensor 16 detects the swing unlock state in which the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 are disengaged from each other, and the corresponding detection signal is output to the controller 19.

Further, the first and second sensors 13 and 14 for confirming the alignment setting state detect the disengagement state between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11, and the corresponding detection signal is output to the controller 19. Through this, the controller 19 determines that the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 are in a disengaged state, and notifies the operator in the cabin of such a disengagement state between the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 through turning off the indicator lamp 21. Further, the controller 19 makes the power that is applied to the solenoid valve 20 for swing lock and swing unlock of the swing device in an on state.

Accordingly, the operator can perform traveling of the equipment by operating the operation lever for the traveling device. Further, in the case where the power is switched to be applied to the solenoid valve 20 for swing lock and swing unlock for controlling the hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the swing motor of the swing device, the swing device is driven to swing the upper swing structure by the hydraulic fluid that is supplied from the hydraulic pump to the swing motor.

As described above, the operator in the cabin can conveniently confirm the alignment state in which the ring gear 10 for locking the swing device and the locking gear 11 are engaged with or disengaged from each other through the indicator lamp. Further, even if the operator performs an erroneous operation of the swing device through the operator's carelessness in the case of performing a pipe laying work, the equipment does not swing, and thus the safety accident due to the shaking of the heavy oil pipe can be prevented from occurring.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments in the attached figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the operator in the cabin operates the swing device after confirming the locking/unlocking state of the locking device that locks the swing device through the display means, convenience can be provided to the operator. Further, during the pipe laying work, the occurrence of a safety accident due to the contact of the oil pipe through the operator's erroneous operation of the swing device can be reduced.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings, they are merely illustrative, and the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is to be understood that various equivalent modifications and variations of the embodiments can be made by a person having an ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should not be defined by the above-mentioned embodiments but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A swing locking device for construction machine, comprising: a lower driving structure; an upper swing structure mounted to swing on the lower driving structure by a swing device; a ring gear for locking the swing device formed on an outer surface of a ring gear for the swing device that forms the swing device; an actuator correspondingly formed to be tooth-engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device to engage or disengage a locking gear fixed to a cylinder rod; an alignment setting confirmation sensor detecting whether setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear for locking the swing device and the locking gear through driving of the actuator; and a swing lock/unlock detection sensor detecting a swing lock state in which the locking gear is engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device or a swing unlock state in which the locking gear is disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device through the driving of the actuator.
 2. The swing locking device according to claim 1, wherein a hydraulic cylinder is used as the actuator.
 3. The swing locking device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller notifying an operator in a cabin of an engagement state of the locking gear and shifting a power applied to the swing device in an off state if the operator makes the locking gear engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device through operation of a swing lock switch, and notifying the operator in the cabin of a disengagement state of the locking gear and shifting the power applied to the swing device in an on state if the operator makes the locking gear disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device through operation of a swing unlock switch.
 4. The swing locking device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment setting confirmation sensor comprises first and second sensors installed symmetrically on left and right sides about the locking gear to detect whether the setting is completed by the tooth-engagement between the ring gear for locking the swing device and the locking gear through the driving of the actuator.
 5. The swing locking device according to claim 1, wherein the swing lock/unlock detection sensor comprises: a third sensor detecting the swing lock state in which the locking gear is engaged with the ring gear for locking the swing device through expansion driving of the actuator; and a fourth sensor detecting the swing unlock state in which the locking gear is disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device through contraction driving of the actuator.
 6. The swing locking device according to claim 1, wherein an indicator lamp installed in the cabin or an alarm or sound message is used as a means for notifying the operator in the cabin of whether the locking gear is engaged with or disengaged from the ring gear for locking the swing device. 